CONVOY PROTESTS
LOCATION: NATIONAL
ISSUE/SOURCE: ‘FREEDOM CONVOY’ PROTESTS AGAINST COVID-19 MEASURES
DATE: MAY 4, 2022
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- Vaccination, used in combination with preventative public health measures, is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians, and to protect public health.
The majority of truckers have made the right choice and are vaccinated. They are essential to keeping our supply chains moving—and they are doing so each and every day.
- The illegal blockades across the country in February 2022 caused significant impacts on the supply chain, economy, job market, and the rights and freedoms of fellow citizens.
- The Government of Canada worked with all levels of government to bring an end to these illegal activities, including through the declaration of a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act, to end disruptions, border blockades and the occupation of Ottawa’s downtown core.
IF PRESSED – general
- The Government of Canada recognizes the essential work accomplished by the trucking industry in continuing to provide critical goods and services that benefit Canadians during this difficult time.
- The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting essential transportation workers, including truckers, while ensuring a coordinated response in the fight against COVID‑19.
- The Government of Canada will continue to rely on the advice of its public health specialists to help us chart our next course as we look to live with COVID-19.
IF PRESSED – Emergencies Act
- From the outset of the protests, Transport Canada worked with other key federal departments and the RCMP, as well as provincial ministries of transportation and U.S. counterparts, to examine options to address the blockades.
- Strengthened by key authorities granted under the Emergencies Act, the Government of Canada supported local and provincial law enforcement activities, along with deployed RCMP resources, to help them bring these illegal activities to a conclusion quickly.
- The Department also worked with infrastructure operators and transportation providers to ensure they were supported in putting plans in place to keep the supply chain moving so that essential consumer goods reached Canadian households.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- On January 28, 2022, a large-scale demonstration began in the National Capital Region. While a number of Canadians converged in Ottawa in protest of vaccine mandates, a great number of these protestors had no connection to the trucking industry and had a separate agenda extending beyond vaccines to include all public health measures. The Canadian Trucking Alliance and other industry associations openly denounced any protest activity involving public roadways, highways, and bridges.
- Similar demonstrations spread across the country The demonstrations were largely centered in downtown cores, high-traffic areas, marine ports, airports and at border crossings, involving both blockade and ‘slow-roll’ approaches. Most were short-lived compared to the protracted demonstrations in Ottawa, at the Coutts land border in Alberta, and at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.
- On February 11, 2022, the province of Ontario declared a state of emergency, giving police stronger authority to enforce measures against individuals blocking international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges, and railways.
- On February 14, 2022, the Government of Canada invoked the Emergencies Act to supplement provincial and territorial capacity to address the blockades and occupations taking place across the country. Under the authority of Public Safety Canada and the RCMP, the police were given more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies constituted illegal and dangerous activities, such as occupations and blockades as seen in Ottawa, Ambassador Bridge and elsewhere. These tools included strengthening their ability to impose fines or imprisonment, designating secure-and-protect places and infrastructure, and the ability to compel, for just compensation, tow truck owners to keep highways and roads clear
- From the outset of the protests, TC worked with other key federal departments and the RCMP, as well as provincial ministries of transportation and US counterparts, to examine options to help address the blockades and to support law enforcement.
- In support of containment efforts, Transport Canada issued a total of 12 NOTAMS for airspace restrictions, including: the area adjacent to the airspace over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON; Fredericton, NB; Québec City, QC; Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON; Windsor, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Emerson, MB; Milk River, AB; Coutts, AB; North Portal SK; Northgate, SK; and Surrey, BC.
- The Emergencies Act was revoked on February 23, 2022, when it was determined that sufficient powers, without the temporary and exceptional measures provided under the Act, existed to resolve any residual, or prevent any new, illegal blockade or public assembly that may have been reasonably expected to lead to a breach of the peace.